Electronics360: "7 Essentials for Starting a Makerspace"

What is "essential" for starting a Makerspace depends upon what your members need. This list is okay, but it leans toward textile while omitting wood and metal and electronics shops.

We started our Makerspace last year, but before we invested in tools we held several public meetings to find out who might be interested and what they were interested in. We did buy a laser cutter, and it is the most popular piece of equipment in the place. Our 3D printers are pretty popular too. We have the textile equipment that the article lists (thanks to some generous donations) but it is not used a lot (although that might change when more people realize it's here).

Other things our members requested (and we have gotten) that get used enough to consider important: wood shop with table saws, planers, miter and chop and band and scroll saws, lathes, sanders, drill press, routers, and lots of clamps. Metal shop with welders (MIG, TIG, gas, and stick), grinders, milling machines, drill press, sheet metal bender / cutter / roller. CNC routing table. Electronics lab with power supplies, soldering stations, and an oscilloscope. Our computer lab has computers loaded with the software necessary to make the files used by the laser cutter and 3D printers and CNC routing table.

We are always expanding and changing equipment out as member needs change. We feel that's the main thing: paying attention to and responding to member needs. Best of luck!

Fred

Can you give me information on how your markerspace work.

I would like to implement something like that. Just do not know it work.